Multilobar injector apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to an apparatus for producing toxic products in a final munition and the dissemination of said products from said munition comprising separate compartments maintaining the initial non-toxic components in an unreacted state and at the proper command the wall of one of the said compartments is ruptured, thereby permitting an intermixture of said non-toxic components giving rise to the said toxic products in the assembled said munition.

United States Patent Dee et al.

MULTILOBAR INJECTOR APPARATUS Inventors: William C. Dee, Towson; David Sylvester, Phoenix, both of Md.

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed: Sept. 16, 1966 Appl. No.: 580,567

US. Cl. ..102/6, 102/57, 102/90 Int. Cl ..F42b 25/12 Field of Search ..l59/99, 102; 102/6, 2, 57,

[ 51 Sept. 19,1972

Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, Herbert Berl and Benjamin G. Colley [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention is directed to an apparatus for producing toxic products in a final munition and the dissemination of said products from said munition comprising separate compartments maintaining the initial non-toxic components in an unreacted state and at the proper command the wall of one of the said compartments is ruptured, thereby permitting an intermixture of said non-toxic components giving rise to the said toxic products in the assembled said munition.

8 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBSEP 1 9 m2 Figa7 SHEEI 1 [IF 2 INVENTORS Dav/d Sylvester William 6'. Dee

Afro/wars MULTILOBAR INJECTOR APPARATUS This invention relates to an apparatus for the dissemination of toxic agents in which the toxic compound is generated from non-toxic reactants just prior the time of dissemination.

The invention is particularly concerned with the generation and dissemination of toxic agents by the reaction of a solid and a liquid of the generic type described in application Ser. No. 839,265, of common ownership with the instant invention.

The storage and handling of highly toxic chemical warfare agents presents serious hazards. The same is true in lesser degree of many insecticides. We have devised an apparatus by means of which toxic compounds can be generated from non-toxic reactants and disseminated within a very short time (usually 3 to seconds) after the initiation of the reaction by which it is formed.

This invention relates to aerial bombs, missiles, artillery shells, rockets, or other munitions adapted to a method of mixing two non-toxic chemical agents at a predetermined time.

The object of this invention is to provide a bomb with a mixing device that is efiicient, simple, safe, and economical.

A further object of this invention is to provide a highly toxic chemicalagent within a munition in a matter of seconds from two separately contained nontoxic chemical constituents therein.

According to this invention, it is proposed to provide a mixing mechanism in a bomb that distributes a solid chemical in particulate or powder form throughout a liquid phosphorus ester in a manner as nearby instantaneously as possible to form a toxic compound. The toxic compound is formed substantially instantaneously by combining the non-toxic constituents according to the reaction scheme set forth in the above patent application.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention resides in a bomb containing a multilobar cartridge assembly consisting of a multilobar cartridge having collapsed walls to give a plurality of lobes enveloped by an apertured casing assembly comprising a rupturable, cylindrical, longitudinally scored or nonscored retaining cover which contains a powder charge and is encompassed by a steel frame composed of a plurality of circumferential annular rings fastened to lon' gitudinal braces. A gas generating propellant charge and igniter is embedded in the partial open end of the cartridge assembly whereby the gas pressure from the ignited charge causes the collapsed walls of the multilobar cartridge to unfold radially outward forcing the adjacent powder charge against the retaining cover, rupturing the cover and dispersing the powder charge uniformly throughout the reactant compartment containing the non toxic ester.

We have shown only a trilobar cartridge, but it is to be understood that any number of lobes greater than one could be used depending upon cost and design studies.

The manner of attaining the foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof, such consideration being given likewise to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of the bomb constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the multilobar cartridge, retaining cover, apertured casing, and actuator.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the igniter assembly shown in FIG. 2 inserted into the cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the multilobar cartridge.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the partial open end of the multilobar cartridge taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial isometric view of the trolibar cartridge showing the open end.

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional view of a bomb constructed in accordance with the invention and having a motor geared to mixing propellers in the reactant compartment.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an airplane in flight having the bombs attached to its wings.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the apertured casing assembly having a rocket or reaction motor adapted thereon.

FIG. 1 l is an axial sectional view of the rocket or the reaction motor.

In the several views of the drawings, parts having similar functions are referred to by the same numerals.

Referring to FIG. 1, the bomb unit shown comprises a nose section assembly 10, a tail-fin section assembly 3, suspension lugs 5, an elongated body 7, a non-toxic liquid in a reactant compartment 9, an apertured casing assembly 11.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the apertured casing assembly generally shown at 11 is detailed. The casing assembly consists of a retaining cover 17 with end plates 27 and 28 and a steel frame made up of longitudinal braces 23 welded to a plurality of annular rings 21 whereby large apertures 26 are formed therebetween. Inside of said cover 17, there is disposed a trilobar cartridge 13 having collapsed walls 15 as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The outer surface of the cover 17 can have score lines 20 which are located inside the aperture 26 as shown at FIGS. 2 and 10, equidistant between and parallel to the longitudinal braces 23.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the forward end of the casing assembly 11 wherein the actuator is shown generally at 25 and has an explosion chamber 31 containing a predetermined amount of propellant charge 34 and is sealed off by a Teflon burst disc 33 and a retaining ring 32 at its rearward end. An electrically initiated primer 29 is provided at the opposite end of the chamber 31. The actuator is attached to the open end plate 27 by means of threads 30 on the rearward end of said actuator 25.

A powdered charge 12 is disposed between the collapsed walls 15 of the trilobar cartridge 13 and the retaining cover 17. The retaining cover 17 is fastened to the steel frame made up of rings 21 and braces 23 by having the cover crimped over each of the extreme end rings 21 of the steel frame. The closed end plate 28 and the open end plate 27 of the cartridge 13 as shown in FIG. 5 are welded or soldered into the ends of the aluminum tube which makes up the trilobar cartridge 13, FIG. 7.

In operation, the pilot of the aircraft manually throws a switch in the aircraft to actuate the primer 29 as shown inFIG. 3 which ignites the charge 34 in the explosion chamber 31. The hot gases from this explosion cause the collapsed walls to expand out to a cylindrical shape. This motion drives the powder 12 outwardly causing the retaining cover to burst at its scored surface through the apertures 26 in the casing assembly 11. Thus, the powder 12 is injected into the non-toxic liquid and the reaction supra takes place with the formation of a toxic chemical agent. At a predetermined time the pilot then throws a switch to actuate the mixing motor which functions the mixing means in the reactant chamber 9.

The method of injecting powder into a liquid which has been accomplished by our invention results in a degree of mixing that is sufficient in itself to hold the powder in suspension throughout the reaction sequence. However, we prefer that the mixture is stirred after the powder charge has been injected into the liquid by various means since this gives a higher yield of the desired final product. Also, the addition of a small amount (about 1 percent by weight) of an antiagglomerate such as a silica gel may be added to the powder since it is helpful in preventing compaction and is not detrimental to the reaction.

FIGS. 8 and 10 disclose motor driven means of stirring the liquid. In FIG. 8 the ingredients are mixed by a motor 36 driven by a pressurized helium tank 38 which is geared to mixing propellers 40 on the shaft 41 in the reactant compartment 9 wherein said motor 36 is sealed off from the reactant compartment 9 by the disc 42. In FIGS. 10 and 11 a rocket motor as shown at 44 is particularly adapted to the apertured casing assembly as shown at 11 and is fastened to the front end portion of the actuator 25 at 46 as shown in FIG. I l by various means. Some of these means consist of the motor 44 being attached to the threaded foreward end of the actuator 25, FIG. 1 l, or by welding or by means of a bayonet type closure. The rocket motor as shown at 44 is ignited by means of an electrical current applied thereto over wire 48. The motor then rotates the expanded casing assembly 11. The physical makeup and operation of said rocket motor as shown at 44 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,739 titled Rocket Propelled Actuator issued to Jack H. Zillman et al. It is to be noted in this regard that when the scored retaining cover 17 is broken outwardly through the apertures 26, the panels that open outwardly form very efficient mixing or stirring paddles 19 when rotating the casing assembly I 1.

This formation of the paddles 19 is facilitated by the score lines 20 in the aluminum cover 17 since the panels are opened outwardly exactly at the weakened score lines and the final result is a cylinder with regularly spaced paddles. If score lines are not used, the paddles that are formed from the panels of the retaining cover 17 are the size and shape of the area defined between two rings 21 and two braces 23. These panels are thrust outwardly upon the ignition of the charge 34 in a random fashion with incomplete separation from the cover 17. In other words, the panels are severed on three sides by the force of the explosion driving them against the rings 21 and braces 23. The fourth side retains the panel to the cover 17, but there is no uniformity as to which side is going to be the retaining side. Thus, we prefer to use scoring lines 20 since-if the expanded casing assembly is rotated, very efficient mixing results and a higher yield of the chemical agent is obtained. If one desires not to go to the time and expense of rotating the expanded casing, then the scoring lines are not needed since substantially adequate mixing occurs without the use of score lines, but a lower yield of the chemical agent results.

In accordance with the concept of the indirect method for the formation of toxic agent, the active non-toxic ingredients can be maintained in separate compartments up to the time they are combined in the final munition to generate the toxic chemical agent. In addition, other general desirable features prevail, such as ease of assembly, reliability, simplicity, and economy. While a specific embodiment of an indirect mixing method has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modification within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the principle disclosed by the foregoing specification can be applied to artillery shells and rockets as long as a conventional timing mechanism is incorporated therein to activate the explosive charge 34 at a predetermined time before the shell or rocket reaches the target. However, my preferred embodiment is an aerial bomb, since this provides for maximum flexibility of operation. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An aerial bomb comprising:

A. a streamlined elongated body means having tail B. an apertured casing means positioned in said body means on the longitudinal axis thereof adapted to form with said body means a first sealed reactant chamber means within said body means,

1. said casing means consisting of gas generated means mounted on one end thereof, framework means, retaining cover means within said framework means and expandable multilobar cartridge means within said cover means,

a. said framework means consisting of a plurality of equally spaced annular ring means secured to a plurality of equally spaced longitudinal brace means having end annular ring means,

b. said cover means and said cartridge means being sealed together at the ends thereof to form a second reactant chamber means,

0. said gas generating means being in communication with said multilobar cartridge mea'ns C. whereby the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the expansion of said cartridge means upon the ignition of said gas generating charge means.

2. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1 in which said streamlined body means contains motor means adapted to agitate the contents of said first reactant chamber means after the contents of the second reactant chamber means are expelled into said first chamber means upon the firing of said gas generating charge.

3. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1, in which said streamlined body means contains gas motor means in the forward end thereof coupled with impeller means in said first reactant chamber means whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the firing of said gas generating charge means said gas motor means is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.

4. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1 in which said streamlined body means contains rocket motor means in the forward end thereof mounted on said gas generating means whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the firing of said gas generating means, said rocket motor means is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.

5. An aerial bomb comprising: 7

A. a streamlined elongated body having tail fins,

B. an apertured casing assembly positioned in said body on the longitudinal axis thereof, adapted to form with said body, a first sealed reactant chamber within said body,

I. said casing assembly consisting of a gas generating charge mounted on one end thereof, a

framework, a retaining cover within said framework, and an expandable multilobar cartridge within said cover.

a. said framework consisting of a plurality of equally spaced annular rings fastened to a plurality ,of equally spaced longitudinal braces having end annular rings b. said cover and said multilobar cartridge being sealed together at the ends thereof to form a second reactant chamber c. said gas generating charge being in communi cation with said multilobar cartridge.

C. whereby the contents of said second reactant chamber are ejected into said first reactant chamber by the expansion of said cartridge upon the ignition of said gas generating charge 6. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 5 in which said streamlined body contains a gas motor in the forward end thereof coupled with impellers in said first reactant chamber whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber are ejected into said first reactant chamber by the firing of said gas generating charge, said gas motor is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.

7. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 5 in which said streamlined body contains a rocket motor in the forward end thereof mounted on said gas generating charge whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber are ejected into said first reactant chamber by the firing of said gas generating charge.

8. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 7 in which said cover is provided with a plurality of score lines substantially in the center of the aperture formed by the intersection of said annular rings and said longitudinal braced whereby upon firing of said gas generating charge the contents of said second reactant chamber force said cover to break outwardly along said score lines to form a plurality of substantially uniform paddles. 

1. An aerial bomb comprising: A. a streamlined elongated body means having tail fins B. an apertured casing means positioned in said body means on the longitudinal axis thereof adapted to form with said body means a first sealed reactant chamber means within said body means,
 1. said casing means consisting of gas generated means mounted on one end thereof, framework means, retaining cover means within said framework means and expandable multilobar cartridge means within said cover means, a. said framework means consisting of a plurality of equally spaced annular ring means secured to a plurality of equally spaced longitudinal brace means having end annular ring means, b. said cover means and said cartridge means being sealed together at the ends thereof to form a second reactant chamber means, c. said gas generating means being in communication with said multilobar cartridge means C. whereby the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the expansion of said cartridge means upon the ignition of said gas generating charge means.
 2. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1 in which said streamlined body means contains motor means adapted to agitate the contents of said first reactant chamber means after the contents of the second reactant chamber means are expelled into said first chamber means upon the firing of said gas generating charge.
 3. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1, in which said streamlined body means contains gas motor means in the forward end thereof coupled with impeller means in said first reactant chamber means whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the firing of said gas generating charge means said gas motor means is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.
 4. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 1 in which said streamlined body means contains rocket motor means in the forward end thereof mounted on said gas generating means whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber means are ejected into said first reactant chamber means by the firing of said gas generating means, said rocket motor means is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.
 5. An aerial bomb comprising: A. a streamlined elongated body having tail fins, B. an apertured casing assembly positioned in said body on the longitudinal axis thereof, adapted to form with said body, a first sealed reactant chamber within said body,
 6. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 5 in which said streamlined body contains a gas motor in the forward end thereof coupled with impellers in said first reactant chamber whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber are ejected into said first reactant chamber by the firing of said gas generating charge, sAid gas motor is actuated to effect a complete mixing of reactants.
 7. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 5 in which said streamlined body contains a rocket motor in the forward end thereof mounted on said gas generating charge whereby after the contents of said second reactant chamber are ejected into said first reactant chamber by the firing of said gas generating charge.
 8. An aerial bomb as set forth in claim 7 in which said cover is provided with a plurality of score lines substantially in the center of the aperture formed by the intersection of said annular rings and said longitudinal braced whereby upon firing of said gas generating charge the contents of said second reactant chamber force said cover to break outwardly along said score lines to form a plurality of substantially uniform paddles. 